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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ian Jones

Government departures since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister

PA Archive

A total of 82 MPs have left Government positions since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, 30 more than the 52 departures during the whole of Theresa May’s premiership.

Here is a full list of the departures, as of 12pm on July 7 2022.

All departures were resignations unless otherwise stated. The list does not include people who left during reshuffles.

1. Baron Young, Government whip in the House of Lords, on August 29 2019, in protest at the decision to prorogue Parliament.

2. Jo Johnson, minister of state at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on September 5 2019, amid disagreements over Brexit.

3. Amber Rudd, work and pensions secretary, on September 7 2019, in protest at Mr Johnson’s Brexit policy and his decision to expel rebel MPs.

4. Alun Cairns, Welsh secretary, on November 6 2019, over claims he knew about a former aide’s role in the collapse of a rape trial.

5. Conor Burns, minister of state at the Department for International Trade, on May 4 2020, after he was criticised in a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

6. Douglas Ross, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland, on May 26 2020, in protest at Dominic Cummings remaining as the Prime Minister’s adviser.

7. Simon Clarke, minister of state at the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government, on September 8 2020, for personal reasons.

8. Lord Keen, advocate-general for Scotland, on September 16 2020, over the legality of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.

9. Chris Green, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Education, on October 13 2020, in opposition to the Government’s response to Covid-19.

(PA Graphics)

10. Caroline Ansell, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on October 22 2020, after voting against the Government over free school meals.

11. Baroness Sugg, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign Office, on November 25 2020, over cuts to international aid.

12. Kelly Tolhurst, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, on January 16 2021, for personal reasons.

13. Johnny Mercer was sacked as parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence on April 20 2021 after threatening to resign over the Overseas Operations Bill.

14. Matt Hancock, health secretary, on June 26 2021, for breaching Covid-19 rules.

15. James Brokenshire, minister of state at the Home Office, on July 7 2021, for personal reasons.

16. Lord Frost, minister of state at the Cabinet Office, on December 18 2021, amid disagreements with the Government over its Brexit and Covid-19 strategies.

17. Lord Agnew, minister of state at the Cabinet Office, on January 24 2022, in protest at the Government’s handling of Covid-19 business loans.

18. Angela Richardson, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, on January 31 2022, in protest at Government standards following the partygate scandal.

19. Lord Wolfson, parliamentary under-secretary of state at Ministry of Justice, on April 13 2022, also in protest at Government standards following the partygate scandal.

20. Paul Holmes, parliamentary private secretary at the Home Office, on May 27 2022, in protest at the “toxic culture” in Government following the Sue Gray report.

21. John Lamont, parliamentary private secretary at the Foreign Office, resigned on June 6 2022 to vote against Mr Johnson in the confidence vote.

22. Oliver Dowden, minister without portfolio and co-chairman of the Conservative Party, on June 24 2022, following Conservative defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton & Honiton by-elections.

23. Chris Pincher, deputy chief whip, on June 30 2022, over allegations of misconduct.

24. Sajid Javid, health secretary, on July 5 2022, in protest at the Prime Minister’s conduct and standards.

25. Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on July 5 2022, also in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

26. Alex Chalk, Solicitor-General, on July 5 2022, also in protest at the Prime Minister’s conduct and standards.

27. Jonathan Gullis, parliamentary private secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, on July 5 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

28. Virginia Crosbie, parliamentary private secretary at the Welsh Office, on July 5 2022, in protest at the PM’s conduct and standards.

29. Nicola Richards, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Transport, on July 5 2022, also in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

30. Saqib Bhatti, parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health, on July 5 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

(PA Graphics) (PA Graphics)

31. Andrew Murrison, trade envoy to Morocco, on July 5 2022, in protest at the Prime Minister’s conduct and standards.

32. Theo Clarke, trade envoy to Kenya, on July 5 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

33. Bim Afolami, Conservative Party vice-chairman, on July 5 2022, in protest at the PM’s conduct and standards.

34. Laura Trott, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Transport, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

35. Will Quince, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education, also July 6 2022, in protest at the Prime Minister’s conduct and standards.

36. Robin Walker, minister of state at the Department for Education, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

37. Felicity Buchan, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on July 6 2022, in protest at the PM’s conduct and standards.

38. John Glen, minister of state at the Treasury, on July 6 2022, also in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

39. Victoria Atkins, minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, on July 6 2022, in protest at the Prime Minister’s conduct and standards.

40. Jo Churchill, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

41. Stuart Andrew, minister of state at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

42. Selaine Saxby, parliamentary private secretary at the Treasury, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

43. Claire Coutinho, parliamentary private secretary at the Treasury, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

44. David Johnston, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Education, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

45. Kemi Badenoch, minister of state at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on July 6 2022, in protest at MR Johnson’s conduct and standards.

46. Julia Lopez, minister of state at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

47. Lee Rowley, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

48. Neil O’Brien, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

49. Alex Burghart, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

50. Mims Davies, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work & Pensions, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

51. Duncan Baker, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

52. Craig Williams, parliamentary private secretary at the Treasury, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

53. Mark Logan, parliamentary private secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

54. Rachel Maclean, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Home Office, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

55. Mike Freer, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for International Trade, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

56. Mark Fletcher, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

(PA Graphics) (PA Graphics)

57. Sara Britcliffe, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Education, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

58. Ruth Edwards, parliamentary private secretary at the Scottish Office, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

59. Peter Gibson, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for International Trade, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

60. David Duiguid, trade envoy for Angola and Zambia, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

61. James Sunderland, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

62. Jacob Young, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

63. James Daly, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Work & Pensions, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

64. David Mundell, trade envoy for New Zealand, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

65. Danny Kruger, parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

66. Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, on July 6 2022, sacked for reportedly suggesting Mr Johnson should resign.

67. Simon Hart, Secretary of State for Wales, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

68. Edward Argar, minister of state at the Department of Health & Social Care, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

69. Gareth Davies, parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health & Social Care, on July 6 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

70. Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

71. Helen Whately, Exchequer secretary at the Treasury, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

72. Damian Hinds, minister of state at the Home Office, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

73. George Freeman, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

74. Guy Opperman, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work & Pensions, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

75. Chris Philp, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Digital, Media, Culture & Sport, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

76. James Cartlidge, Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

77. Michelle Donelan, secretary of State for Education, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

78. Caroline Johnson, Conservative party vice-chair, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

79. Luke Hall, deputy chair of the Conservative party, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

80. Rob Butler, parliamentary private secretary at the Foreign Office, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

81. Rebecca Pow, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

82. Richard Graham, trade envoy for SE Asia, on July 7 2022, in protest at Mr Johnson’s conduct and standards.

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